Hotels in Bayan Lepas

Bayan Lepas is a town near the south-eastern tip of sultry Penang Island in Malaysia.

It is home to Penang International Airport and also several multinational engineering and electronic firms including well-known names Motorola, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Bosch.

Principally an industrial area, Bayan Lepas also has some interesting attractions like the Fisheries Research Institute Aquarium, which is home to an excellent variety of exotic marine life such as the lionfish, moray eel and giant catfish. Staying on the scaly side of things, the Snake Temple in nearby Sungai Kluang is a chance for a photo opportunity with one of its slithery inhabitants. The Bukit Jambul Orchid & Hibiscus Garden with its exotic flowers and plants offers a very sweet-smelling option, and for history enthusiasts, the War Museum sitting atop Bukit Maung gives insight into the nation’s colourful past with its historical remains and well-preserved fortress.

Buses from the Sungai Nibong Bus Terminal are plentiful and provide connections around the town and to the airport situated in Bayan Lepas itself. Car hire is a popular method of transportation, as the town has two bridge connections, Penang Bridge and 2nd Penang Bridge, with the mainland Seberang Perai easily accessible from the north-south Expressway which connects the west coast.

According to legend, the town was founded in the 19th century and was named after a wealthy Sumatran family whose pet parakeet had flown away, hence the name Bayan Lepas that translates to “escaped parakeet”.